- After an application for a Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply permit has been processed and a permit issued, the public can search the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division’s Regional Office Project Database for related documents and/or plans.

The Agency of Natural Resources' three departments,
Environmental Conservation (DEC), Fish and Wildlife (F&W), Forests,
Parks and Recreation (FPR) have regulatory responsibility for a
number of programs and oversee their associated permits. The majority
of environmental permits are issued by the DEC. To help you understand
the permitting process, or look up permit information, please see
the following resources.

The Environmental Assistance
Office provides permit assistance through the Agency of Natural
Resources' five regional offices and five satellite offices. The
Permit Specialists are available in these offices to answer your
questions about the permit process. The Permit Specialist will advise
you about needed state permits and will prepare a Project Review
Sheet. The Project Review Sheet is a preliminary determination of
not only environmental permits, but also any state permits your
project may need. It lists the agencies and departments and provides
contact information. Knowing all of the permits required before
you begin your project can prevent costly delays, saving you time
and money. View an example Project
Review sheet.

The Agency of Natural Resources publishes a Permit
Handbook which contains an in-depth compilation of 45 DEC permit
programs as well as 50 other Vermont and federal regulatory programs.
The Handbook includes a description of the permit, criteria for
jurisdiction, staff contacts, and statutory citations for authority
and appeals. The handbook is updated periodically. The Permit Handbook
also contains several small business fact sheets, summarizing the
probable permit requirements for each business type.

Listing of the status of active permit applications and recently-issued
DEC permits

The weekly Environmental
Notice Bulletin (ENB) report includes the Project Identification
Number, Permit Number, and some basic information about the project,
the type of permit requested, important dates in the application
review process, and the name and phone number of a DEC contact person
who can provide additional information.

The chart of DEC
rules and regulations includes rules related to Air Quality,
Hazardous and Solid Waste, Underground Storage Tanks, Wastewater
and Potable Water Supply Systems, Dams, Groundwater and Surface
Water Quality, Indirect and Point Discharges, Water Well Drilling,
Water Withdrawals, Environmental Penalties, Wetlands, etc.

The list includes a brief description of each
item, links to detailed information, links to the Permit Handbook
Sheet for each item, and links to the Application Forms, and Fee
Schedules. Forms are available in a choice of formats including:
Adobe PDF*, PDF Forms, MS Word, MS Word Forms, Wordperfect.

Dependent upon the nature, size and location of
a project, one or more Department of Environmental Conservation
permits, certificates, licenses or other approvals may be required
for that project. In addition, many of these permits are integrated
into the Act 250 permitting process - Vermont's land use development
control law. Permitting programs most frequently required and links
to additional information are listed below.

- Pursuant to Title 10 Chapter 220 a Notice of Appeal of a wastewater related permit decision may be filed with the Environmental Court within 30 days of the date of the decision. A list of permit decisions is updated regularly.

- The Regional Offices of the DEC Drinking Water & Groundwater Protection Division
issue a variety of permits including:

Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply
Permits:
Buildings and structures that require wastewater and water supply
systems to be usefully occupied may require a Wastewater and
Potable Water Supply Permit. This includes single family residences
and public buildings such as: apartments (1 or more), duplexes,
second dwelling on a lot (including a guest house for a single
family residence), repair shops, churches, schools, day cares,
stores, offices, lodging, food service, beauty parlors, municipal
buildings, health care. This also applies to construction of,
or modification to, or changes in use that affect the water
or sewer systems. Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply
Permits are issued from the DEC Regional Offices. Applications for these permits are filled out by Licensed Site Designers. For additional
information see links below, or the Division's Permit Information summary page, or contact either the appropriate Permit
Specialist or Division Regional
Office Staff.

- The DEC Watershed Management Division also issues a variety of other wastewater related permits including:

Indirect Discharge: For land based sewage
disposal systems of greater than 6,500 gpd and discharges from
unlined landfills to groundwater.

Residual Management Certification: for
management of wastewater treatment biosolids, septage and other
special wastes. This certification is also known as "Solid
Waste Management Certification".

Underground Injection Control (UIC):
Required to discharge non-sanitary waste into an opening in the
ground, or floor drains discharging onto or into the ground. This
includes stormwater infiltration structures.

Wastewater Treatment Facility Operator Certification:
all chief and assistant operators of wastewater treatment facility
must obtain a certification for the grade level associated with
the treatment facility.

Designer Licensing Program (formerly the Site Technician Certification Program):
Certification is required for individuals to become licensed designers.
Class A and Class B designers details are described on the web site.

Public Community Water Source Permit:
Required for sources for public community water systems; bulk
water facilities; or bottled water facilities.

Public Water System Construction Permit:
Required for construction of new or expanded public community
water system or drinking water facility or line extension of greater
than 500 feet.

Public Water System Operating Permit:
An Operating or Temporary Operating Permit must be obtained to
operate or maintain a public water system with at least 15 service
connections serving an average of 25 people daily.

Bottled Water Permit: Required to process,
process or provide for sale or distribution bulk or bottled water
in Vermont.

Public Water System Operator Certificate:
This provides the designated individual with approval to operate
a public community and non-transient non-water system.

Well Drillers License: Any person who
intends to engage in the business of drilling water or monitoring
wells must have a license to do so.

Water Supply Assistance and Loan Programs - Information and
Applications:

Effective July 1, 2014, the Vermont Legislature passed shoreland regulations that apply to activities within 250 feet of a lake's mean water level for all lakes greater than 10 acres in size. The Shoreland Protection Act (V.S.A Chapter 49A, §1441 – 1452) establishes a new state regulation for guiding shoreland development. The intent of the Act is to prevent degradation of water quality in lakes, preserve habitat and natural stability of shorelines, and maintain the economic benefits of lakes and their shorelands. The Act defines clear standards for the creation of buildings, driveways, and cleared areas in shorelands. The Act seeks to balance good shoreland management and shoreland development, but also recognizes that many shoreland properties in Vermont are already developed or are small lots that cannot meet the new standards. These properties are "grandfathered" until the owner proposes redevelopment. In these cases state officials will work with homeowners so that standards are met to the extent possible. See the link below to the Shoreland Permit Program for additional information.

Any project that encroaches beyond the normal summer water level of a lake or pond that is a public body of water may require a Lake Encroachment Permit. Encroachments include retaining walls or riprap to control shoreline erosion, commercial docks, large docks, dredging or filling, and repairs or replacements of existing encroachments.

Wetlands Conditional Use Determination:
Vermont wetland rules state that all uses which are not allowed
uses in significant wetlands (class 1 and 2) are conditional uses.
Conditional uses are only allowed in significant wetlands or in
adjacent buffer zones upon receiving a Conditional Use Determination
(CUD).

Aquatic Nuisance Control Permit: Regulates
the use of chemicals, biological controls, or bottom barriers
to control nuisance aquatic plants, insects or other aquatic life
such as lamprey.

Water Quality Certification (401 certification):
Any activity that is subject to a Federal permit or license and
may result in a discharge to waters of the United States must
be reviewed and approved, conditioned, waived or denied water
quality certification. Certification applications are reviewed
to determine if the activity will comply with the Vermont Water
Quality Standards. A federal license or permit may not be granted
if certification has been denied.

Underground Storage Tank Permit: A permit
is required to be obtained by the owner or operator of a 'category
one tank'. Category one tanks include most underground gasoline
and fuel oil storage tanks; farm or residential motor fuel storage
or storage of fuel oil for on-site use exempt. A permit is required,
without exception, for any UST used to store waste oil. There
may be notification requirements dependent upon the size of the
tank.

Hazardous Waste Treatment Storage and Disposal
Certificate: Certification is required for facilities engaged
in treatment, long-term storage or disposal of hazardous waste.
All Vermont generators are regulated at one of three levels: conditionally
exempt, small or large quantity generators.

Hazardous Waste Handler Notification:
All Vermont generators are required to determine if the waste
they generate is hazardous and if so complete and submit a notification
form.

WASTE MANAGEMENT - SOLID WASTE

Solid Waste Transfer Station Certification:
Authorizes owner-operator to construct and operate a transfer
station for the collection and temporary storage of solid waste
for transfer to another certified solid waste facility.

Solid Waste Compost Certificate: Authorizes
owner-operator to compost various materials. The type and volume
of materials determined specific requirements; ranging from exemption
to categorical certification to full certification.

Solid Waste Lined Landfill Certificate:
For owner-operator to construct and operate a lined landfill for
the disposal of municipal solid waste.

DEC's Facilities Engineering Division administrates
the following permitting program

Dam Safety Permit: Required for the construction,
alteration, or removal of non-hydroelectric dams or impoundments
of greater than 500,000 cubic feet. Ensure that these activities
are carried out to serve the public good and provide adequately
for public safety.

Act 250 provides a public, quasi-judicial process
for reviewing and managing the environmental, social and fiscal
consequences of major subdivisions and development in Vermont through
the issuance of land use permits. It is Vermont's development and
control law that is administered by nine District Environmental
Commissions, overseen by the Natural Resources Board. Activities
include review of land use permit applications for conformance
with the
Act's ten environmental criteria, issuance of opinions concerning
the applicability of Act 250 to developments and subdivisions,
monitoring
for compliance with the Act and with land use permit conditions,
and public education.

The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is a separate state entity.
Many DEC permits are required in the Act 250 process as presumptions
of compliance with the appropriate criteria. Most permit handbook
program sheets describe the relationship with the Act 250 process.
In some cases final DEC permits are required for a complete Act
250 permit application. In addition, ANR and DEC staff make recommendations
to the District Commissions based on technical evaluations of each
application for impacts on natural resources such as air quality,
soil erosion, water quality, wetlands and wildlife habitat. The
ANR and DEC do not issue Act 250 permits. Only District Commissions
and the Natural Resources Board have authority to issue or deny
Act 250 permits.

The Act
250 Permit Database includes a searchable database of Act 250
permits and applications, as well as a weekly listing of Act 250
agenda items.